12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Lina
M y mom asked me to arrive at the masquerade ball an hour early. She’d tasked me with mingling with some of the sponsors before the event began. Typically, I’d give her a hard time, but I felt more of a soft spot on this occasion because of the connection with Carter. Knowing this event would benefit someone close to him, I obliged my mother’s demands. And in true Corrine fashion, she didn’t even thank me.
I brushed it off this time. I need to pick my battles, and this is not one I want to fight.
Carter mentioned he’d be here tonight as well. We haven’t spoken since what happened between us in New York. It was awkward, yet it felt like an acknowledgment that we both recognize something intimate going on. I have no idea what it is, but it’s something fierce. Now, more than ever, I’m unsure of how to act around him.
Since this is a masquerade ball, I don’t know what his mask looks like. I feel vulnerable but excited because he could be any of these men.
After what feels like hours of making small talk with the sponsors, I scan the room to see if any of my friends have arrived yet. It only takes me a minute to spot Piper and her husband, Jack, standing around one of the cocktail tables.
Thank god we shopped for our costumes together because I wouldn’t have been able to recognize her. We both bought matching floor-length black lace dresses. Piper’s has a plunging neckline, whereas mine has a slit in my left leg.
Jack is dressed in a black and white tuxedo, with a mask covering half his face. He is dressed similarly to most of the men here tonight, except for slight variations in each mask’s type and facial coverage.
I quickly prance my way over, pushing myself by a group of women dressed in black velvets with tight maroon-laced corsets.
“Hey, babes,” I greet them. The three of us exchange friendly hugs. “How was your flight?”
“It was good,” Piper answers for them both.
“It’ll be nice to have your condo to stay at every time you’re in town,” I say.
“Absolutely. I’m so glad we’ve decided to keep it,” Jack adds.
“And now we can continue to see our Piper Moon anytime we want.” I smile, grabbing her hand.
She blows me a kiss.
“Yeah, I would never want to keep her away from her best friends,” Jack kindly reassures me, even though he doesn’t need to. Jack is perfect for her, and I couldn’t be happier for them.
Just then, Bailey and Mason approach us while holding hands.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I greet her enthusiastically. “Oh, and Mason.”
“It’s always so nice to see you, Lina,” he clips before turning to chat with Jack. Like Avery, I always have one eye on Mason. I do need to give him a break. He is obsessed with Bailey and knows he hit the jackpot with her.
“Isn’t Carter coming tonight?” Bailey asks me, failing to disguise her giddy demeanor. I’m not the only one who hears her question because six other eyes look at me.
I pull my bottom lip through my teeth. “I think so.”
“Your running partner?” Mason arches an eyebrow in my direction.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously? Can you be more immature?”
Mason lowers his eyes. “I can. Thank you for asking.”
The four of them share a friendly laugh before Bailey and Piper wrap their arms around me.
“Fill me in,” Jack says.
Piper smiles at him. “Lina has the hots for an older man.”
Jack’s eyebrows raise. “Oh shit.”
“It’s nothing.” I throw my palms into the air.
“We see the way you two interact around each other. There is so much sexual tension that it’s obvious to everyone,” Bailey teases.
“You guys need lives,” I joke, crossing my arms at my chest. “Now that you both are in love, all the attention is on me. I don’t like it.” I pout.
“If we don’t give you a hard time about this, who will?” Piper chuckles.
I crack a smile. “I don’t have to like it.”
“Have you and Carter logged any hours yet?” Bailey presses, searching for more information.
I pause for a minute, wondering how much detail I should give them. Do I tell everyone about our argument in New York? About how Carter lost his shit when he found out about Finn? Or about how he demanded that I not see Finn that night. Even better—how I actually listened to him? No. I’m not telling them any of that. I can’t even wrap my own mind around me and Carter’s palpable chemistry. Or that I listened to a guy tell me what to do. I’m not prepared for their over-the-top reactions.
“We have, a few times,” I slip, tight-lipped.
Piper cocks her head to the side. “You’re not going to tell us, are you?”
“There is nothing to tell.” My voice is firm, but then a smile breaks. “If there were, I would tell you. I promise.”
Bailey’s eyes widen. “Good girl.”
“I am a good girl, aren’t I?” I giggle.
“I love to be called a good girl,” Piper says in a sweet voice, glancing at Jack.
Mason and Bailey both exchange flirtatious looks as well.
I run a hand through my hair. “This conversation took a turn.”
Piper hooks around me, laughing. “I have a feeling Carter would want you to be his bad girl, though.”
Bailey bubbles with laughter.
“You both are worse than my sister, you know that?” I bury my crimson cheeks in my hands.
Letting me go, Piper moves to Jack. He lovingly places his hand on her lower back while she curls into him. Surprisingly, it makes my heart ache. “It was enough with just Bailey. Now you too?” I roll my eyes at Piper. “You guys and all your loveliness annoy my inner skeptic.” I briefly glance around the room. “Where’s Avery? She’s bringing Dave the Dentist, right? ”
Piper rests her head on Jack’s shoulder. “It is fun, though, babe.”
I exhale. “I know.”
Max will be here, too, since his aunt is part of my mom’s team that puts on the event. I put on a playfully smug look. “And for your information, things are going well with Max.”
Bailey scrunches her nose. “Are you sure about that?”
I love my friends, but their ability to read through me is annoying.
“Welcome to our nosey group, Jack,” I say sarcastically. “Oh look, there’s my partner anti-romantic,” I call out, pointing to Avery and her stuffy dentist walking over to us.
“He isn’t for her,” Piper whispers to Bailey and me. We both nod our heads in unison.
Avery has been dating Dave the Dentist for about a year and a half. They met because her dentist was out of town, and she needed an emergency crown. It sounds like a cute story, but he’s stiff, barely laughs, and they have nothing in common. When she talks about him, there’s no twinkle in her eye. She mentioned to us once that they don’t have sex often, and when they do, it’s eh.
I cannot fucking imagine settling in the bedroom. That is one of the many reasons why I don’t date long term. I like to sample as many dicks as possible, leaving plenty of room to try new ones. That makes me sound like a whore . Why do women have to feel guilty about that? Buried inside, I know I’m subconsciously trying to find my person—but I’m not convinced he even exists, so I resort back to that same mindset.
“Right? He’s a nice guy, but not for Avery,” I grit out through a smile as the five of us stare at our unhappily in-love friend .
After another round of greetings, Jack suggests that the guys grab us all a drink, leaving me, Bailey, Avery, and Piper alone. We watch as Mason and Jack head to the bar, but Dave the Dentist looks like he’s going to the restroom. Maybe he didn’t want to have a dry conversation with the guys.
“I can’t believe you brought him,” Bailey blurts out as soon as the guys are out of earshot.
Avery clicks her tongue. “What?”
“You’re stringing him along, babe.” I point out.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Avery dismisses. “And why isn’t anyone talking about that little thing between Lina and Carter, her dad’s best friend, I might add.”
Bailey giggles.
“Oh, we are,” Piper sneers.
“I love it that we’re so involved in each other’s lives, but I also loath it,” I remark.
Avery swings her arms around me, Bailey, and Piper, and the three of us do the same. We stand together, staring out onto the dance floor.
“Tonight is going to be fun, ladies,” Avery says.
Bailey rests her head on my shoulder. “Has anyone run into Corrine yet?”
“My mother is in rare Corrine-show fashion,” I tell them. “Be prepared.”